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Junior school pupil treated for meningitis in fourth Reading case
TL;DR
A junior school pupil in Reading is being treated for meningitis, marking the fourth case linked to the same social network. The UK Health Security Agency confirmed that close contacts have been offered antibiotics as a precaution.
Key points
- A junior school pupil in Reading is treated for meningitis
- This is the fourth reported case linked to the same social network
- Close contacts have been offered antibiotics as a precaution
Mentioned in this story
ReadingUK Health Security AgencyLewis Waters
Westwood Farm Junior SchoolReading Blue Coat SchoolHighdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre
A junior school pupil is being treated for meningitis in Reading, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The Westwood Farm Junior School pupil is the fourth young person to contract the infection, with all four linked to the same wider social network, the UKHSA said.
Last week, Lewis Waters, who attended The Henley College in Oxfordshire, died with the infection.
Two others cases were reported in Reading - at Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre.
The UKHSA said the Westwood Farm pupil was "recovering well" and confirmed close contacts linked to all four had been offered antibiotics as a precaution.
The UKHSA has not given fuller details on what links the cases.
It said all had been confirmed to be Meningitis B (MenB).
It added the risk to the wider public remained low and this is not linked to incidents in Kent or Dorset.
Two months ago, two people died of MenB in Kent, linked to a nightclub in Canterbury, and in April, three young people contracted meningitis in Dorset.
The agency said it was sharing information about the infection with students and parents at all affected schools.
Lewis Waters was described as "funny and kind hearted".
Posting a tribute on Facebook last week, his family said they were devastated and "words simply can't describe the heartbreak and upset we're going through".
His father Sean Waters said Lewis developed sepsis "within a few hours of feeling ill".
"He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn't save him," he wrote.
"We are absolutely devastated."
There are about 300 to 400 cases of meningococcal disease diagnosed in England every year.
It is most common in babies, young children, teenagers, and young adults.
Meningitis symptoms can develop suddenly - and can include:
- a rash that doesn't fade when pressed with a glass
- sudden onset of high fever
- severe and worsening headache
- stiff neck
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- joint and muscle pain
- dislike of bright lights
Q&A
What are the symptoms of meningitis in children?
Common symptoms of meningitis in children include fever, headache, stiff neck, and sensitivity to light.
How many meningitis cases have been reported in Reading recently?
There have been four reported cases of meningitis in Reading, all linked to the same social network.
What precautions are being taken for close contacts of meningitis cases?
Close contacts of the meningitis cases have been offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
